The University of Massachusetts in Paris
in conjunction with Academic Programs International

At-A-Glance
Eligibility / Requirements	2.75 GPA (+Placement Test and Interview)
Open to Non-UMA?	Yes
Fall, Year	Rolling until April 1
Spring	October 1
Classes Taught In	French, English
Abroad Advisor	Karla Sarr
Documents	Letter of Recommendation, Expense Estimate, Advising Masters , API Course Reference

• Photo Gallery
• Paris Dauphine
• Paris Diderot

• This program is for advanced-level students only
• US transcripts issued by the University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Direct Enroll in classes with French students
• Classes taught in French

  Some classes may be available in English at Dauphine

• Housing: local host families, dorms, studettes
• Student Visa Required

Academic Program

Additional Requirements

UMass students have the opportunity to study at the Université Paris Diderot or the Université Paris Dauphine for the semester or the academic year. Students must submit the following materials to complete their application.

• Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a French instructor).
• Brief statement of purpose on a separate sheet of paper. (One page in length)
• Additional application materials and the results of a language assessment test administered by UMass Amherst will be required.
• Acceptance subject to approval by the University of Massachusetts Amherst

It is advised that students apply early, as admission to these programs is highly competitive and space is limited.

Dates & Fees

What's Included

API Courses

Students participating in the exchange are required to attend the API courses below. Students who wish to have this requirement waived should discuss this with the UMass Program Coordinator.

Spring API Course: The Secret is in the Sauce
A Pluridisciplinary and Multi-Sensorial Approach to French Cuisine, from Origins to the Present

Who has never dreamt of chocolate mousse, foie gras, or fondue? Why is France so attached to its cuisine and culinary traditions? How did they develop and what role do they play in daily life as well as national identity? How can the French indulge themselves in lavish, lengthy meals and joyfully continue to speak about food while eating? What does eating mean? This course is designed to explore the role and situation of French Cuisine within society from historical, ethnological, and sociological points of view, and exercise this savoir vivre français by cooking some traditional dishes and sharing them together. This is a reading and research class with a cooking and tasting component.

Fall API Course: Understanding Franco-American Relations, 1776-Present

From the recent Freedom Fries or the post-World War II "Yankee Go Home", to the eternal Lafayette and Bartholdis Statue of Liberty, Franco-American relations have followed a rocky and sometimes contradictory trail. In order to understand this dichotomy, it is necessary to define what is meant by liberty and democracy and examine how each nation cast itself as a republican and democratic model to the rest of the world. This course will particularly focus on Franco-American cultural relations and will analyze French discourse on the United States by looking at the origins of pro- and anti-American sentiments in France and their development through the 20th century. This class will explore the role of French cultural exception in this relationship and see if one could speak of an American cultural exception too. This is a reading and research course.

Teaching Internships

A limited number of teaching internships are available for intermediate- to superior-level students. An additional fee is charged for participation in the internship, and students will earn 3 semester credits upon successful completion.

A French Experience: Internship

Students will teach English in a French collge or lycée. This is a unique experience for API/UMass students in Paris to get to know Parisians and Parisian life from the inside, not only through the teenagers in the classes you will teach, but also from the teachers you will assist.

Teaching Responsibilities

The API/UMass student will teach English two to three hours a week in a Parisian collge (junior high school) or lycee (high school), mostly conversational classes to French pupils. The class would either be divided in halves and/or the regular English professor will stay in the class. The regular professor will ask the student what is to be taught and will help you prepare for class. The API/UMass student will be asked to keep a journal where all course plans and weekly evaluations will be registered (one page per class, per course taught). Students will also have to write a final internship report (in French) analyzing the French teaching system and their perception of French society through their own teaching experience. Upon successful completion students will earn 3 semester credits.

The Universities

Students must have had at least five semesters of college French, or the equivalent, prior to studying at these universities, and may pursue major credit (subject to departmental approval). Registration will occur upon arrival in Paris. Because students will not have a confirmed class schedule before departing for France, it is a good idea to get pre-approval for areas of study rather than for specific courses.

Université Paris Diderot

Located in Paris Rive Gauche (the 13th arrondissement near the Bibliothéque François Mitterand), Paris Diderot is a complete language-immersion experience. The new campus mixes modern steel-and-glass façades with French pre-war industrial architecture. Students take classes in the humanities and social sciences with Parisian students, directed by French professors, in French. Before classes begin, students participate in a two-week preparatory program or "stage" aimed at introducing students to the campus and teaching system. US students are taught alongside other international students who are also new to the city.

Students will be able to choose from the following subject areas:

Université Paris Dauphine

Created in 1968 the Université Paris-Dauphine has become a leading business school in France. The campus is located in a former NATO building at Porte Dauphine next to the Bois de Boulogne and with 26% foreign students among its enrollment of 9000 students the university is characterized by an international atmosphere. Dauphine is specialized in the fields of Organizational Sciences and Decision: Management, Economy, Law, Political Science, Sociology, Applied Mathematics, Information Technology and Data Processing. A number of French language courses focusing on grammar, vocabulary, and business terminology are offered each semester

Students will be able to choose from a variety of subject areas taught in French, including:

A number of courses are also available in English. Subjects available in English vary per semester and may include:

Other Materials

Helpful Links

• Academic Programs International Homepage
• Academic Programs International Paris Program
• University of Massachusetts Amherst Financial Aid Office
• University of Massachusetts Scholarship Search
• University of Massachusetts Department of French & Italian Studies
• Universite de Paris VII Denis Diderot
• Universite de Paris IX Dauphine
• Universite de Paris IX Dauphine Course Search
• French Consulate in Boston
• French Consulate in Boston Visa Requirements
• Campus France
• Online French Dictionaries
• Currency Converter

Four months—that doesn't sound like alot. On average, my life changes very little in four months. Four months in Paris, however, change seemingly everything. I don't even know how to begin to explain what an amazing experience I had.

Vivienne P.—University of Massachusetts Amherst

My overall experience abroad honestly could not have been any better. Yes, it can be scary to be sitting in a classroom with people around you who probably don't speak English as a first language, but they could be some of the best people you ever meet. I was invited home to Germany, Scotland and Northern Ireland for Christmas from friends I made in my classes. I also now have people to visit all over the world.

Jennifer S.—University of Massachusetts Amherst

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